U.S. patent application number 10/566592 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for device of telephonic alarm for industrial refrigerators.
Invention is credited to Maurizio Fusco.
Application Number | 20060214808 10/566592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29765730 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060214808 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fusco; Maurizio |
September 28, 2006 |
Device of telephonic alarm for industrial refrigerators
Abstract
Device planned to inform, by telephonic vocal messages, the
danger of decay of medicines and foodstuffs or, in general,
perishable goods preserved in refrigerating units in pharmacies,
drug-stores, supermarkets and similar, giving an information about
the condition of the refrigerator. Device that includes one or more
sensors, even cordless, connected to a circuit that includes a
microcontroller with a software application that manages, jointly
to the peripherals included into the circuit: the measurement and
the control of temperatures; the remote and local signalling of
alarm; the warning about the loss or return of energy; the vision,
on the display, of the temperatures and working's values; the
remote enquiry and programming.
Inventors: |
Fusco; Maurizio; (Rome,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Family ID: |
29765730 |
Appl. No.: |
10/566592 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 30, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT04/00425 |
371 Date: |
January 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/585 ;
340/531; 379/22.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 11/045 20130101;
F25D 2400/361 20130101; F25D 2700/16 20130101; F25D 29/008
20130101; F25D 2700/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/585 ;
379/022.03; 340/531 |
International
Class: |
G08B 17/00 20060101
G08B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2003 |
IT |
RM2003 U 000138 |
Claims
1. Telephonic alarm device able to send signal, through vocal
messages on telephonic lines (PSTN, GSM or similar) informing the
risk of decay of the perishable goods preserved in the
refrigerating units and freezing systems. Device characterized by
the fact that includes a circuit for the control of temperature,
compound by external sensors, electronic programmable thermostats
and electronic programmable timers, is able to activate
automatically a circuit and send signals of alarm through
telephone, when occurs a variation in the temperature (high or low)
set-up. This device activates the telephone line automatically,
selects the telephone numbers from its memory and transmits the
alarm call, registered in vocal synthesis, associated to the fridge
in damage. Simultaneously, a loud alarm will locally be activated
through the buzzer and is visible through the led diode attached to
that particular fridge.
2. Device, as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that
includes one or more sensors, even cordless, installed in the
refrigerating units to acquire and monitory the measure of
temperatures, connected to the basic circuit. The circuit, equipped
with buffer for the storage of data, allows to share the data
through the connection interface, with the outside (type USB, RS232
port or similar). This makes possible to store the history of
temperature measurement for a successive electronic data processing
and electronic data storage, as indicated by the European norms
HACCP.
3. Device, as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that
includes an external module (type USB, RS232 port or similar) with
solid-state memory on board can be connected to the device, through
the interface connection and then to a personal computer, and
vice-versa, for the data exchange (programming, temperatures data,
etc.), a firmware for the management and functioning of the circuit
with a specific software application is included for the use of the
different functions of the device.
4. Device, as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that
includes the possibility to make enquiry, from anywhere, through
the telephonic line and DTMF tones, about the fridge's conditions,
receiving reply to the specific questions, through synthesised
vocal messages resident in the dedicated supplemented circuit and a
keypad for the manual programming and the verification of the
system.
5. Device, as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that
includes an external module (type USB, RS232 port or similar) with
solid-state memory on board can be connected to the device, through
the interface connection and then to a personal computer, and
vice-versa, for the data exchange (programming, temperatures data,
etc.), a firmware for the management and functioning of the circuit
with a specific software application is included for the use of the
different functions of the device.
6. Device, as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that
includes the possibility to make enquiry, from anywhere, through
the telephonic line and DTMF tones, about the fridge's conditions,
receiving reply to the specific questions, through synthesised
vocal messages resident in the dedicated supplemented circuit and a
keypad for the manual programming and the verification of the
system.
7. Device, as claimed in claim 3 characterized by the fact that
includes the possibility to make enquiry, from anywhere, through
the telephonic line and DTMF tones, about the fridge's conditions,
receiving reply to the specific questions, through synthesised
vocal messages resident in the dedicated supplemented circuit and a
keypad for the manual programming and the verification of the
system.
Description
[0001] The extant invention refers to security' systems branch.
[0002] This present invention refers to an electronic device of
telephonic alarm that can be used to prevent the danger of decay of
medicines, foodstuffs or other perishable goods kept in industrial
refrigerators in pharmacies, drug-stores, supermarkets etc.
[0003] Those existing systems serve only in a limited way this
purpose. The aim of present invention is to extend the safety level
out of local sphere and to inform those responsible through the
telephone at the right moment so to prevent huge losses.
[0004] The device, hence, is extremely important during the night
and the festivity closings or anytime the refrigerating-units are
not under personal control.
[0005] However, everybody knows that damage to the refrigerating
system or the lack of energy, could cause heavy economical losses
due to the decay of the goods destined to sale.
[0006] The aim of present invention is to realise a device that is
able to give timely signal through telephone to concerned persons,
when the programmed temperature is exceeded or altered giving
sufficient time to transfer the goods in another freezer and thus
to avoid losses.
[0007] Another advantage of present device is that, thanks to the
sensors connected to their circuit, it records constantly the
temperatures of the controlled freezers. Thus it is possible to
employ this characteristic for the electronic data processing and
archiving of the temperature data as indicated by the European
norms HACCP.
[0008] The device, with the present innovation, is realised with
circuit elements, except the sensors, in a unique box to give the
opportunity to be easily installed to control many freezers,
located in different locations.
[0009] All the components used for the device are common. But, what
is new and distinctive is their assembling and utility. This newly
invented device is a solution for many problems regarding
refrigerators.
[0010] The attached drawing illustrates the function of the newly
invented device, with an example of a single unit of
refrigerator.
[0011] As we can notice by the drawing, the temperature in the
freezer FIG.1 (F1) is constantly controlled by the sensor FIG.1
(S), connected to the device where there is the circuit with the
microcontroller on board FIG.1 (P). The value of temperature will
appear on the display FIG.1 (D).
[0012] If the temperature of the freezer FIG.1 (F1) goes over the
programmed level, either with higher or lower temperature (included
function of programmable thermostat) or remain functioning more
than the time programmed (included function of programmable timer)
the microcontroller will send: 1) a local acoustic alarm through
the buzzer FIG.1 (B) and 2) an optical alarm through the led FIG.1
(L) allotted to freezer FIG.1 (F1).
[0013] At the same time to the local alarm, the device will manage
the remote alarm using the telephonic line FIG.1 (LT), that can be
PSTN, GSM or similar and will send the calls in the prefixed order
to the memorised numbers and then, through the integrated circuit
having the vocal messages FIG.1 (V), will give notice to the
concerning person indicating the condition of the freezer and
requesting an immediate attention.
[0014] Once received the alarm's message, it is possible to stop
sending further warnings by means of a PIN code send by the
telephone itself, blocking the transmission of following calls
programmed in the device.
[0015] Moreover, more functions have been foreseen in the device
as: the archiving of the temperature's data as requested from
European norms HACCP, the control of power, the remote checking of
refrigerating system, the remote programming, the auxiliary
contacts for the interfacing, as voice dialler, on burglary-alarm
and fire-alarm systems existing and/or the connection for alarm
push-buttons.
[0016] Archiving of the temperatures as requested from European
norms HACCP. The values of the temperature captured from the sensor
FIG.1 (S) are deposited in the device's not volatile memory. They
can be taken off through the interface I/O FIG.1 (IO), through a
direct connection, an external module FIG.1 (M), and can be
elaborated and archived on a personal computer with a specific
software application or can be send to a printer directly FIG. 1
(ST).
[0017] Control of Power.
[0018] The device, equipped with an emergency battery FIG.1 (BA)
with a right recharge circuit FIG.1 (CB), is able to inform about
the loss and the return of power. In case of loss FIG.1 (R), after
a programmed time (included function in the programmable timer),
the device will send a message about the absence of power.
[0019] If the power is back FIG.1 (R) before the inside temperature
of the freezer reaches the thermostat alarm' threshold (included
function of the programmable thermostat), the device will send a
message informing the return of the power to avoid unnecessary
intervention.
[0020] Remote consulting of the refrigerating system's conditions.
By calling the telephone number where the device is connected, the
answering circuit FIG. 1(C) will be activated automatically and
will make possible to send search code to make an enquiry about the
system through tones DTMF. Each search code will have an attached
vocal message, memorised in the integrated circuit. FIG. 1(V).
[0021] Remote Programming.
[0022] Besides the local programming of the functioning parameters
using the keypad of the device FIG. 1(T) or an external module FIG.
1(M) or through a personal computer FIG. 1(PC) that contains a
software of programming, it is possible to have remote programming
and remote assistance.
[0023] Such functions are available, from remote, using a personal
computer which has a software of remote management of the device
and using as vectors, analogical modem, GSM terminals and
similar.
[0024] Auxiliary Contacts.
[0025] Such free contacts on the device, are foreseen for the
interfacing towards burglary alarm and fire alarm systems and for
the connection of emergency push-buttons inside the freezing area,
that are useful to the responsible person, if necessary.
[0026] The present device that has been described above, has ample
possibility to be modified without any alteration in its basic and
fundamental design.
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